IECEE 2026 - Conference Program
IECEE 2026  ·  08–09 October 2026 · Hanoi, Vietnam

TENTATIVE CONFERENCE PROGRAM

Day 1 — Opening, International Cooperation & Digital Transformation in Education

Thursday, 08/10/2026 · Crystal Room & Winsor Room · Grand Plaza Hotel Hanoi

Morning
07:00 – 09:50
Millenium Exhibition Hall
1. Exhibition Opening
  • 07:00 – 08:30: Delegate registration
    Check-in area, main lobby, 2nd floor
  • 08:45 – 09:00: Exhibition opening performance
    - Performance 1: Vocal ensemble "1 Vòng Việt Nam" (Around Viet Nam) - Yamaha School Orchestra and students of Lê Quý Đôn Primary School
    - Performance 2: Drum LED Dance - Dancers and laser technology
  • 09:00 – 09:05: Opening remarks for the Exhibition - Mr. Hoàng Minh Sơn, Minister of Education and Training
  • 09:05 – 09:10: Exhibition opening ceremony - Leaders press the button to commence the exhibition
  • 09:10 – 09:45: Tour of the Exhibition booths - VIP guests, delegates
  • 09:45 – 09:50: Move back to the Crystal Conference Room
09:50 – 11:00
Crystal Room
2. Conference Opening Ceremony
  • 09:50 – 10:00: Welcome and introduction of delegates; screening of a video clip on digital transformation in education and training
  • 10:00 – 10:05: Opening remarks — Mr. Hoàng Minh Sơn, Minister of Education and Training
  • 10:05 – 10:10: Remarks — The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, Minister for Skills, Women and Equalities, UK Department for Education
  • 10:10 – 10:15: Remarks — Mr. Stefaan Hermans, Director for Competitiveness, Talent Mobility and International Cooperation, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, European Commission
  • 10:15 – 10:20: Remarks — Ms. Courtney Beale, U.S. Chargé d'Affairs in Vietnam
  • 10:20 – 10:25: Remarks – Ms. Silvia Danailov, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam
  • 10:25 – 10:40:Signing/exchange ceremony of Memoranda of Understanding
  • 10:40 – 10:45:Group photo
  • 10:45 – 11:00: Tea Break
11:00 – 12:00
Crystal Room
3. Keynote Session — Topic 1: Policy – Models – Technology
  • 11:00 – 11:10: Innovation ecosystem in education — Mr. Trần Nam Tú, Deputy Director General, Department of Science, Technology and Information, Ministry of Education and Training
  • 11:10 – 11:20: Applications and measurement implications of AI in assessment — Mr. Jonathan Schmidgall, Senior Research Scientist, Educational Testing Service (ETS), United States
  • 11:20 – 11:30: The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education institutions and the workforce of the future — Mr. Fouad Abd-El-Khalick, Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst), United States
  • 11:30 – 11:40: NHG AI-First: A systems thinking framework for technology-in-education policy — Dr. Nguyễn Sung, Deputy CEO of Technology R&D and Group CIO, Nguyen Hoang Group (NHG)
  • 11:40 – 11:50: Beyond the degree: Rethinking the value of a university degree in the age of AI — Prof. Rick Bennett, Vice-Chancellor and Vice President, British University Vietnam
  • 11:50 – 12:00: Scaling English for Vietnam’s global competitiveness — Dr. Vincent Leow, Senior Vice President, Efekta Education Group, United Kingdom
  • 12:00: End of session
Afternoon
13:00 – 14:30
Crystal Room
4. B2B Networking Session
  • 13:00 - 14:30: B2B Networking Session for registered organizations
Details of B2B Networking Session
Parallel Thematic Sessions
14:50 – 17:00
Crystal Room
5. Topic 2: Digital Transformation & International Integration in K-12 Education

Moderator: Dr. Do Duc Lan (Institute of Educational Strategies and Policies)

  • 14:50 – 14:55: Introduction to the thematic workshop session on K-12 education
  • 14:55 – 15:10: Digital transformation in general education — Mr. Tạ Ngọc Trí, Deputy Director General, Department of General Education, Ministry of Education and Training
  • 15:10 – 15:25: How AI is accelerating English fluency across general education — Dr. Christopher McCormick, Chief Academic Advisor, Efekta, United Kingdom
  • 15:25 – 15:40: Connecting global innovation with local practice in the digital transformation of general education (K-12) — Dr. Jussi Pekka Jarvinen, Head of National Projects, Eduten, Finland
  • 15:40 – 15:55: Empowering K-12 education in Vietnam: Digital transformation and international integration — Dr. Kelvin Koh, Google Workspace and Gemini Enterprise
  • 15:55 – 16:05: Break
  • 16:05 – 16:45: Discussion

Discussion topics:

  • What do K-12 education lack most for effective digital transformation, and do current technology solutions truly address that need?
  • What financial cooperation models between schools and businesses are feasible and sustainable given the limited budgets of K-12 education?
  • Do schools have sufficient tools to control student data when partnering on technology, and what commitments do businesses make to ensure this?
  • Based on a successful model, what conditions are needed to replicate it in other schools?
  • What criteria should be used to assess the real effectiveness of technology/AI in teaching, and are businesses willing to publicly disclose measurements against those criteria?

Moderator: Dr. Do Duc Lan, Institute of Educational Strategies and Policies

Panelists:

  • Mr. Ta Ngoc Tri, Deputy Director General, Department of General Education
  • Mr. Will Polese, Vice President, Elsa Corp
  • Mr. Jussi Pekka Jarvinen , Chief Academic Advisor, Eduten, Finland
  • Mr. Kelvin Koh, Google Workspace and Gemini Enterprise
  • Ms. Hoàng Thị Mận, Principal, Newton School
14:00 – 16:00
Winsor Room
6. Topic 3: Global Alliance Initiative for Children

MC: Vu Kim Chi (UNICEF)

  • 14:00 – 14:15: Musical performance: Choir medley: "Bác Hồ người cho em tất cả"; "Cùng nhau ta đi lên"; "Bài học đầu tiên"; "Em yêu trường em"; "Tinh hoa Việt Nam"; "We are the world"
  • 14:15 – 14:20: Video clip on digital teaching and learning activities for children in Vietnamese K-12 education — UNICEF
  • 14:20 – 14:35: Sharing global digital initiatives in education for children: Recommended lessons learned for Vietnam — Mr. Frank Van Cappelle, Head of the Global Learning Innovation Hub, UNICEF
  • 14:35 – 14:50: Digital education initiative on applying AI technology in work processes for teachers and education administrators, helping children access technology safely and effectively — Prof. Dr. Lê Anh Vinh, Director, Vietnam Education Strategy and Policy Institute
  • 14:50 – 15:00: Break
  • 15:00 – 15:15: Building an environment for children to thrive in the AI era — Mr. Hà Duy Bình, Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Education Digital Transformation Support and Consulting Department
  • 15:15 – 15:30: Building the Nguyễn Siêu Digital Ecosystem: from mindset to action — Ms. Nguyễn Thị Minh Thúy, Principal, Nguyễn Siêu School
  • 15:30 – 16:00: Panel discussion – Building the future together: International partnerships in digital transformation for every child

Discussion Topics:

  • What is the reality of implementing digital transformation and online safety for children – what has practical experience shown?
  • How can international partnerships promote child-centered and inclusive digital transformation in education?
  • How can governments, development partners, and the private sector collaborate to ensure children's online safety?
  • What kinds of investments are needed to ensure every child develops the digital skills and future skills to transition successfully from learning to earning and growth?

Panel:

  • Prof. Dr. Lê Anh Vinh, Director, Vietnam Education Strategy and Policy Institute
  • Ms. Nguyễn Tú, Aide et Action
  • Mr. Hà Duy Bình, Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Education Digital Transformation Support and Consulting Department
  • Ms. Đỗ Thị Thu Hương, Director of Government Affairs, Intel Corporation, United States

  • 16:00: Session wrap-up — Prof. Dr. Lê Anh VinhDirector, Vietnam Education Strategy and Policy Institute; Ms. Tara O'Connell, , Chief of Education, UNICEF Viet Nam

Day 2 — Digital Higher Education, Internationalization & Vocational Education

Friday, 09/10/2026 · Winsor Room & Sapphire Room (3rd Floor) · Grand Plaza Hotel Hanoi

Parallel Thematic Sessions (Morning)
08:15 – 11:45
Winsor Room
7. Topic 4: Digital Higher Education and Internationalisation

• MC: Giang Thi Hai Dang • Moderator: Dr. Mika Tirronen, Education and Science Counsellor, Finland

  • 08:15 – 08:45: Delegate Registration
  • 08:45 – 08:50: Introduction to the thematic workshop session
  • 08:50 – 09:05: EU–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: Unlocking opportunities for higher education, research, and innovation — Mr. Stefaan Hermans, Director-General in charge of international cooperation, education, youth, sport and culture, European Commission
  • 09:05 – 09:20: Policy framework for developing digital universities and smart governance: orientations, standards, roadmap — Mr. Đặng Văn Huấn, Deputy Director General, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Training
  • 09:20 – 09:35: From European policy to practice: Poland's experience in digitalizing academic transformation, recognition, and international partnerships — Mr. Łukasz Gołota, Deputy Director General, Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA)
  • 09:35 – 09:50: Powering AI across edge and cloud — Mr. Bùi Hải Hưng, Vice President, Qualcomm
  • 09:50 – 10:00: Break
  • 10:00 – 10:15: The evolution of internationalisation in Australian Higher Education - What's next? — Prof. Scott Thompson-Whiteside, Pro Vice-Chancellor and General Director, RMIT University Vietnam
  • 10:15 – 10:30: AI-Native University: A new architecture for future learning in the AI era — Dr. Nguyễn Văn Mùi, Vice President, Gia Định University
  • 10:30 – 10:45: Sharing power, not just tools: AI in international higher education partnerships — Dr. Luis Canales, Associate Provost for Illinois International at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States
  • 10:45 – 11:00: Redefining the competency model of an outstanding student — Dr. Paul Julian Bennett, Chief Marketing Officer, British University Vietnam
  • 11:00 – 11:45: Thematic Discussion:
  • Building digital universities for the future: Innovation, Leadership, and Skills Development
  • From partnership to co-creation: international cooperation for talent development and higher education transformation

Expected focus topics:

  • Digital university development strategies at the institutional level
  • Smart campuses and data-driven decision-making
  • Digital learning platforms and open education
  • Applying AI in teaching, learning, assessment, and governance
  • Developing a digitally competent higher education workforce

Moderator & Panelists:

Moderator: Dr. Mika Tirronen, Counsellor of Education and Science, Embassy of Finland, Singapore (regional)

  • Mr. Đặng Văn Huấn, Deputy Director General, Department of Higher Education
  • Prof. Hoàng Anh Tuấn, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi
  • Mr. Hoàng Minh Thông, Vice Director of Academic Affairs, Director of the Center for Innovation in Teaching, Learning and Educational Technology, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City
  • Prof. Dr. Utz Dornberger, Director, SEPT Competence Center, Leipzig University, Germany
  • Dr. Andrea Stiefvater, Associate Vice Chancellor for Global Engagement and Senior International Officer, University of Nebraska Omaha, United States
  • Dr. Kalpen Trivedi, Senior Vice Provost for Global Affairs, University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst), United States
  • Ms. Kate Joyce, Director, Asia-Pacific Region, British Council

11:45: Session wrap-up — Mr. Đặng Văn Huấn, Deputy Director General, Department of Higher Education

08:00 – 11:25
Saphire Room (3rd Floor)
8. Topic 5: Vocational Education in the Digital Human resources Ecosystem
  • 08:00 – 08:30: Delegate Registration
  • 08:30 – 08:35:Welcome to delegates and overview of the Thematic Workshop Session
  • 08:35 – 08:40: Opening remarks for the Workshop — Mr. Trần Thanh Đạm, Director General, Department of Vocational Education and Continuing Education, Ministry of Education and Training
  • 08:40 – 08:55: Vocational education cooperation – connecting the education ecosystem with the employment ecosystem in the context of digital transformation — Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vũ Thị Tú Anh, Deputy Director General, Department of Vocational Education and Continuing Education, Ministry of Education and Training
  • 08:55 – 09:10: Skills for the future: The role of Government, business, and education in ensuring Vietnam's global competitiveness — Ms. Mish Eastman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Vocational Education), RMIT University
  • 09:10 – 09:25: Effective implementation models for digital platforms and learning materials, and digital competency profiles for lifelong learning goals in vocational education — Mr. Volker Schmid Martin, Vice Director of Asian Pacific, FESTO Didactic
  • 09:25 – 09:40: Strengthening vocational education to build Vietnam’s digital workforce — Mr. Vikram Malhotra, Senior Director of Program Management, Qualcomm
  • 09:40 – 09:55: Innovating vocational education cooperation: lessons learned from effective practices — Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Đình Thọ, Deputy Director, Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment
  • 09:55 – 10:10: Break
  • 10:10 – 11:00: Panel discussion: Promoting vocational education cooperation: Building a digital transformation ecosystem connecting the education ecosystem with the employment ecosystem

Panel Participants:

Moderator: Dr. Phạm Vũ Quốc Bình, Deputy Director General, Department of Vocational Education and Continuing Education

    Panelists:

  • Prof. Dr. Sc. Hồ Tú Bảo, Director, Data Science Laboratory, Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics (VIASM)
  • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Đình Thọ, Deputy Director, Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment
  • Dr. Mish Eastman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Vocational Education), RMIT University
  • Mr. Felix Weidenkaff, Employment and Labour Market Policy Specialist, International Labour Organization (ILO) in Viet Nam

11:00: Session wrap-up — Mr. Trần Thanh Đạm, Director General, Department of Vocational Education and Continuing Education, Ministry of Education and Training